History of San Pedro de Alcantara

Some human remains found in nearby Sierra Blanca were dated back to the Paleolithic and Neolithic Period. That means, man wandered and hunted in this region way back in prehistoric times. This may be considered the earliest part of San Pedro de Alcantara history.

However, the earliest known formal settlement in this town may be attributed to the Romans. Remnants of this civilization, which include the Termas romanas de Las Bóvedas (Roman baths), Basílica paleocristiana de Vega del Mar, and a watchtower known as the Torre almenara de Bóvedas, provide substantial proof of their existence here in the past.

Although we are not aware of Moorish archaeological remains in San Pedro de Alcantara, the fact that Marbella, which is just a few kilometers away, was once a walled Moorish city is enough to give us a hint that the Arabs may have also reached this far.

Many years after the end of Moorish occupation in Marbella’s walled-city, Spain decided to repopulate this part of the province. The re-population, which began in the mid-19th century, was spearheaded by General Manuel Gutierrez de la Concha, the first Marques del Duero. He embarked on a grand project that turned this town into an agricultural colony.

It was at that point in time that the town was formally known as Colonia Agrícola de San Pedro Alcántara (Agricultural Colony of San Pedro de Alcantara). A lot of construction period followed immediately after.

Among the buildings from that period that still stand and are among the most visited historical sites are: the Model Farm School on Agricultural Training, the El Ingenio Azucarero sugar mill, and the La Iglesia parish church.

In the 1970’s, the residents of San Pedro de Alcantara slowly shifted their focus to tourism. Networks of water and drainage systems, communication, and paved streets were erected, paving the way for the construction of more commercial establishments like hotels, restaurants, and the golf courses.

All these improvements were also direct results of Costa del Sol’s transformation into a tourist region. Today, the streets of San Pedro de Alcantara have a steady flow of guests who come to visit the historical sites, go to the beach, or drop anchor at the posh Puerto Banus marina.

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